John Roger Roberts, Baron Roberts of Llandudno (born 23 October 1935), is a
Welsh
Welsh may refer to:
Related to Wales
* Welsh, referring or related to Wales
* Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales
* Welsh people
People
* Welsh (surname)
* Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peopl ...
Liberal Democrat politician,
Methodist
Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's ...
minister, and
life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the peerage whose titles cannot be inherited, in contrast to hereditary peers. In modern times, life peerages, always created at the rank of baron, are created under the Life Peerages ...
. He was for many years President of the Welsh
Liberals, and later, the Welsh Liberal Democrats.
Early life and education
Lord Roberts was educated at
John Bright Grammar School, in
Llandudno
Llandudno (, ) is a seaside resort, town and community in Conwy County Borough, Wales, located on the Creuddyn peninsula, which protrudes into the Irish Sea. In the 2011 UK census, the community – which includes Gogarth, Penrhyn Bay, Craig ...
, the
University College of North Wales, and
Handsworth Methodist College,
Birmingham
Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the We ...
.
Career
Ordained ministry
In 1957, he became a
Methodist
Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's ...
minister, and was the superintendent Methodist minister at Llandudno for twenty years before serving as minister at the Dewi Sant (Welsh United) Church, Toronto. He is an active supernumerary minister in North Wales.
Political career
He was a councillor and a leader of the Liberal Democrats on
Aberconwy Borough Council for a number of years, and stood as a candidate for the parliamentary seat of
Conwy
Conwy (, ), previously known in English as Conway, is a walled market town, community and the administrative centre of Conwy County Borough in North Wales. The walled town and castle stand on the west bank of the River Conwy, facing Deganwy on ...
five times. He narrowly missed being elected the last two times he stood, first coming close to beating the Conservatives, with only a margin of 995 votes, and then being beaten by Labour in the General Election of 1997, when the Conservatives lost their majority in the
House of Commons
The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of parliament. T ...
.
On 15 June 2004, Roberts was created a
life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the peerage whose titles cannot be inherited, in contrast to hereditary peers. In modern times, life peerages, always created at the rank of baron, are created under the Life Peerages ...
as Baron Roberts of Llandudno, ''of
Llandudno
Llandudno (, ) is a seaside resort, town and community in Conwy County Borough, Wales, located on the Creuddyn peninsula, which protrudes into the Irish Sea. In the 2011 UK census, the community – which includes Gogarth, Penrhyn Bay, Craig ...
in the County of
Gwynedd
Gwynedd (; ) is a county and preserved county (latter with differing boundaries; includes the Isle of Anglesey) in the north-west of Wales. It shares borders with Powys, Conwy County Borough, Denbighshire, Anglesey over the Menai Strait, an ...
''.
A former whip and spokesperson on International Development, he now speaks on youth democratic engagement, unemployment, asylum, migration and Welsh affairs for the Liberal Democrats in the
House of Lords
The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by appointment, heredity or official function. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminst ...
.
Roberts is currently president of Wales International, is honorary president of
Bite The Ballot
Bite The Ballot (BTB) is a party-neutral movement and registered youth democracy charity, based in the United Kingdom. Its mission is to empower young people to evolve UK democracy.
BTB was formed in April 2010 by business studies teachers David ...
, Liberal Democrats for Seekers of Sanctuary (LD4SOS) and Friends of Barka UK and is also vice-president of Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod.
Personal life
Roberts' latest book, ''Hel Tai'', is only available in Welsh.
He is a widower with three children and lives in Llandudno on the Creuddyn peninsula, North Wales. His son,
Gareth Roberts, also stood for the same seat for the Liberal Democrats in 2005. His two daughters, Rhian Roberts and Sian Roberts work for the BBC and the Electoral Reform Services respectively.
References
External links
*Lord Roberts of Llandudno'
websiteLord Roberts of Llandudnoprofile at the site of Liberal Democrats.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roberts Of Llandudno, Roger Roberts, Baron
1935 births
Living people
Councillors in Wales
Liberal Democrats (UK) life peers
People from Llandudno
Welsh-speaking politicians
Liberal Democrats (UK) parliamentary candidates
Liberal Democrats (UK) councillors
Welsh Methodist ministers
Liberal Party (UK) politicians
Life peers created by Elizabeth II